Lashton's View

Pt. 4

It was near the middle of the night when the bus stopped next to a gas station. When no one was looking, I slipped out of the door and rushed to the back of the building, staying out of sight from any watchful eyes. 

I listened as the van started up and drove off. I noticed a forest to my left, and as if it had read my mind and didn't want me to run off, a wolf howled. I shivered and made my way opposite to the forest, losing distance to another close building.

As I was walking, I tripped over a twig and fell flat on my face, right into a pile of mud. I pushed myself back to my feet and continued making my way forward. I walked right into a thorn bush, tripping on that one and falling face first into another.

Rotten luck.

I pushed myself up once more and, via learning from my mistakes, I watched where I was walking to avoid getting hurt again. I was getting closer and didn't see someone standing at the front. 

"Who's there!" They shouted ahead of me. "Don't come one step forward! I have a gun, so don't you dare!" A gunshot rang in my ears, no doubt from them.

I stepped back, tripped over a twig, and fell. My legs were wrapped in thorns from bushes, immediately forcing cuts to form and bleed. What scared me was the footsteps that were coming close to me. 

I scampered out of the area and ran, ignoring the pain in my legs. I listened to a gun repeatedly fire behind me. The bullets just flew past my head and arms, one managing to nick me. I held onto the skin as I ran. The pain subsided.

I hid behind the gas station, waiting for them to leave, but they only came closer. I could hear them breathing from the left of me, their breaths short but quick. I looked over at the inside of the building I was next to, and noticed that it was still open, so I rushed inside and hid. I stayed as far away as possible from the windows and the door, hoping they didn't see me.

No one was inside but me. It felt like I was trapped in some sort of horror game, maybe 5 Nights at Freddy's. Now I was just waiting for a large animatronic to jump out and scare me.

Nothing moved outside, clearly telling me that they were gone. I didn't take any chances; I stayed in my position until I was very sure that they were gone. Even then I didn't trust myself. I never had.

As soon as I gathered enough courage, I stood up and pushed open the transparent door, looking around. I didn't see anyone near, or even a silhouette. I walked out and looked around.

A gun fired to my right, making me jump and run to the street. I ran down the street in the direction that the others had gone in. I rushed down the gravel path and tripped once more, face planting in the rocks. One cut my arm.

I pulled myself to my feet and continued down the pathway until I was very sure I wasn't being followed. Then I fell to my knees, earning more scratches, but I ignored the pain and began to sob.

"I shouldn't have left," I cried. "I shouldn't have left! I want Ashton!" Tears poured down my face as I fell backwards and onto my back. "I want Ashton back!" 

Headlights blinded my vision. They pulled over to the side of me, but I ignored them. "I want Ashton!" I shouted. "I want Ashton back!"

"Luke, look! It's me, Alex! I'm going to take you back to the van, back to Ashton. Come on!" He pulled me over softly and to the car. I got to my feet and followed him over, then allowed him to set me in the back seat.

I rubbed my eyes with my clean, non-muddy fingers. Then I sat up, leaned back, and allowed the tears to roll down my face, cleaning just a few streaks of dirt from my face. "I wish I'd never left. I missed Ash so much."

"It's going to be okay, Luke. You're going to see him when you get back. I promise," he replied.

After a few minutes of complete silence, we pulled up next to the van. I got out and stood there, looking down, not caring if any of them were worried or laughing or anything.

Ashton immediately ran up to me and hugged me, holding me close to him. "I thought you had gotten hurt. You scared me so much, Lukey. I missed you."

"He was near the side of the road, with dirt smeared all over his face and clothes. He was crying; I could tell that he regretted leaving. He scared me so bad," Alex told him. "He was crying out for you, whimpering your name. Then he told me how much he missed you, how much he wished he didn't leave you on the bus alone."

He pressed his nose against my hair, then pulled away. "It's embarrassing how I acted when I found out that he had left. You'd have to ask the others. But I missed him too," he said as he rubbed my hair with his hand. He hugged me again, but this time he gently rested his head on my shoulder. "I missed you, Lukey. I really did."